Shane Ash

I was reminded of this old hymn today. I remember stumbling down the dorm stairs, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and finding a back-row seat in a 7AM church history class taught by Larry Smith during my undergraduate days. Just as I was settling back into a sleep deprived, note-taking posture…professor Smith would begin loudly singing this old Charles Wesley hymn. (I also remember having to memorize these words for the final exam of his class.)

These words, this principle, is rooted deeply in my life. I want (desperately) for God’s Spirit to continue to soften me, make me sensitive to the selfish wanderings of life…to help me quickly recognize any wrong doings. Like CW, I recognize the mountain of selfishness that we all have to work through…and in the ups and downs of that journey…may we lean on the grace provide through Christ.

I want a principle within
Of watchful, godly fear,
A sensibility of sin,
A pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel
Of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wand’ring of my will,
And quench the kindling fire.

From Thee that I no more may part,
No more Thy goodness grieve,
The filial awe, the fleshly heart,
The tender conscience, give.
Quick as the apple of an eye,
O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh,
And keep it still awake.

Almighty God of truth and love,
To me Thy pow’r impart;
The mountain from my soul remove,
The hardness from my heart.
Oh, may the least omission pain
My reawakened soul,
And drive me to that blood again,
Which makes the wounded whole.